Coast’s push for share of tourist boom

TASMANIA’S North- West wants a bigger slice of the state’s booming tourism pie and extra government help to put the region firmly on the map.

The Cradle Coast Authority — which represents nine councils — says while tourism in the region is growing, the North-West was getting a smaller proportion of the statewide increase in visitors.

Between December 2016 to the year ending 2017, the number of tourists who visited the North-West rose from 235,700 to 279,000.

The amount they spent jumped from $31 million to $36 million

“While this growth is welcome, we are mindful that not everyone is experiencing the increase in visitors,” Cradle Coast Authority chief executive Brett Smith said.

“We are working tirelessly to help disperse visitors throughout the Cradle Coast and bring the good news to all with our small team and small budget.

“With limited funding, there is only so much we can do.

“We have put our case to the Government as we have a plan and now we want to get on with marketing our unique part of the island to the state’s growing numbers of visitors.”

The redevelopment of facilities at Cradle Mountain is expected to funnel more tourists to the North-West and several tourism projects were promised by the Hodgman Government during the election campaign.

These included $500,000 to establish the Western Journey project to look at establishing another iconic walk — such as the Overland Track — in the Tarkine area and a trial of a regular passenger transport air service between Hobart and the Strahan Airport over the next two years.

The Hodgman Government also promised to revive Strahan’s Esplanade as the centrepiece of a $1 million-plus investment to boost tourism on the West Coast.

There are also plans to establish a West Coast Drive to complement the already established driving attraction on the state’s East Coast.